26th March, 2007: Bigelow Tea receives grant to install Solar Panels in Fairfield headquarters
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) announced (and it was announced on Building CT Green) that the Clean Energy Investment Committee has approved a grant of $777,000 to Bigelow Tea Company to defray approximately 55% of the cost of installing a 171-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the company’s Fairfield, Connecticut headquarters facility. The solar PV system will be mounted on the rooftops of four different building levels and will supply approximately 195,600 kilowatt hours annually, or 6.7% of the total electrical needs of the headquarters complex.
“We are pleased to be supporting R.C. Bigelow’s latest effort to protect our environment,” said Lise Dondy, president of CCEF. “The company has already demonstrated that it is a diligent environmental steward through its involvement with Fairfield’s Clean Energy Task Force and the energy efficiency and conservation measures it has taken over the past several years at its Fairfield facility.” Dondy added, “Furthermore, Bigelow’s solar panels, once installed, will help alleviate the electric load in the heavily congested region of southwest Connecticut.”
Cindi Bigelow, co-president of R.C. Bigelow, commented, “We are extremely delighted to be part of this renewable energy program. Doing our part to make the planet a better place is very important to all of us at Bigelow. This solar project is just one more example of how we are trying to be more environmentally friendly. We could not be more pleased to have partnered with the town of Fairfield and their ‘Green Talks’ to help spread the word of what each person can do to make environmentally-responsible choices. We are continually examining different ways that Bigelow can preserve, protect and promote a sustainable future in every part of our business operation.”
Posted by Liesl at 9:40 am |
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Excellent! I’m glad to see a corporation taking responsibility for their environmental footprint and setting the example of making it smaller. The CCEF is a great thing. I wish my state had something like that.
Comment by Aarlene — April 18, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
777K for 6.7%? And that’s only 55% of the cost? Sounds terribly impractical to me. Does this suggest why solar systems still aren’t common? I certainly couldn’t afford a system!
Comment by Bob — May 27, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Solar is still expensive. As the demand for this technology increases we should see reduction in prices due to improved manufacturing and competition.
Remember the original VCRs and calculators were rather expensive to begin with but over time those costs have dropped so almost every TV and desk drawer can now have one.
Dean
Comment by Valorie — May 31, 2007 @ 7:00 am